Today we’d like to introduce you to Malika Hobeheidar.
Hi Malika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
From Phoenix to Gilbert, I’m quite all over the place, which somewhat makes me a Phoenician at heart but originally, I was born in Paris, France. I’d like to think that’s where my aesthetics to beauty comes from. My drive for success comes from being an All-American girl. I grew up in a very rich cultured household, in a town that was much different than the city life I remember of Paris. Growing up, I always felt a little misplaced, until my 30s when it all kind of clicked. It happens to the best of us. Today, at 35, I proudly find myself managing two businesses: my family’s restaurant – Otto Pizza & Pastry of 29 years and my own little startup – Malika Photography. I received my MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2018, whilst working full-time as a French bilingual representative at American Express when I realized the entrepreneur inside of me couldn’t settle. Behind the scenes, I was also concentrating on my art for photography. After graduating, I suddenly found myself leaving AMEX for Otto’s. My ultimate goal was to help my family, while feeding my entrepreneurial needs by applying my educational skills to the business such as HR, accounting, financials, communication, leadership, etc. At the same time, I was still teaching myself photography, how to shoot in manual, and studying portrait and wedding photography. As of today, I’ve done over 30 photoshoots and currently in the works in registering Malika Photography as a business. I currently stay active on my blog and social media with my current work. I also work full time as an operations manager, helping manage the family business, baking for the restaurant, and being a leader for others. You should check out the restaurants Instagram page – @ottopizzaandpastry. You’ll see all the amazing cakes and pastries that we make for the restaurant!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I always try and look at a challenge as an opportunity for success, which forces me to be a better business person, from the restaurant to photography. Today, challenges can somewhat lay in the hands of social media, where it can be easy to lose your sense of individuality, but I’ve overcome that mindset by allowing social media to become my vision board, instead of a place that makes it easy to compare my work. Regarding the restaurant, it has somewhat been easier, as it’s something I was born into. The restaurant has an incredible community that makes it fun to go to work. You spend most of your day serving people you know by their first names, and working with co-workers that not only feel like friends, but family. The restaurant has always been something that felt very natural and huge reason why I love it so much.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Thank you! I’m feeling very humbled for this opportunity to share my story. I have over 10 years of photography experience, and 15 years of customer service experience from being a bilingual French representative at American Express, to managing a successful mom and pops restaurant in Tempe. As for the restaurant, you can find me taking order’s and serving the front, to running kitchen and baking delicious cakes like German chocolate, Carrot Cake, and other incredible pastries. As a photographer, I photograph people, places, and love. I book for portraits, family, engagements and weddings. Check out my page @portraitsbymalika and hopefully we can work together!
Pricing:
- $200+ Family Packages, Headshots
- $1300+ Weddings
Contact Info:
- Email: malika.photography@gmail.com and malika.ottopizza@gmail.com
- Website: www.Malika.Photography and www.OttoPizza.com
- Instagram: @ottopizzaandpastry @portraitsbymalika
Image Credits
Malika Photography
